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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NCChina CDC weekly

Epidemiological and Genetic Characterization of Human Metapneumovirus in Children - Tianjin, China, 2012-2024.

  • Mingkun Wu1,2
  • Rui Li3
  • Liru Guo1,2
  • Mei Kong1,2
  • Peng Zhang1,2
  • Xiaoyan Li1,2,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Institute of Microbiology, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China.
  2. 2Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology of Infectious Disease, Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China.
  3. 3Caofeidian District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tangshan City, Hebei Province, China.
  4. 4Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in the Population, Ministry of Education, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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Abstract

Introduction

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children. This study characterized the epidemiological patterns of pediatric HMPV infection in Tianjin from 2012 to 2024 and analyzed the genetic features of circulating strains to inform prevention and control strategies.Methods

Epidemiological data collected from 2012 to 2024 were retrospectively analyzed to describe the seasonality and age distribution of pediatric HMPV infection. Novel primers were designed for whole-genome sequencing, and circulating HMPV strains were characterized by subtype, recombination signals, amino acid substitutions, and glycosylation sites.Results

Pediatric HMPV infection in Tianjin showed seasonal and age-related patterns. The dominant type alternated between HMPV-A and HMPV-B every 1-3 years. Four major subtypes, A2b, A2c, B1, and B2, were detected, and A2c predominated in recent years. Genetic and molecular analyses identified recombination signals in several sequences, as well as amino acid substitutions and glycosylation sites.Conclusion

This study characterized the epidemiological patterns of pediatric HMPV infection in Tianjin from 2012 to 2024. The newly designed primers supported whole-genome sequencing and analyses of viral genetic variation and recombination. These findings provide epidemiological and genomic evidence to inform HMPV prevention and control.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{wu2026epidemiological,
  title = {{Epidemiological and Genetic Characterization of Human Metapneumovirus in Children - Tianjin, China, 2012-2024.}},
  author = {Mingkun Wu and Rui Li and Liru Guo and Mei Kong and Peng Zhang and Xiaoyan Li},
  journal = {China CDC weekly},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.46234/ccdcw2026.198},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42890514},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Epidemiological and Genetic Characterization of Human Metapneumovirus in Children - Tianjin, China, 2012-2024.
AU  - Mingkun Wu
AU  - Rui Li
AU  - Liru Guo
AU  - Mei Kong
AU  - Peng Zhang
AU  - Xiaoyan Li
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/01
JO  - China CDC weekly
DO  - 10.46234/ccdcw2026.198
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42890514
AB  - Introduction  Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a common cause of acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in children. This study characterized the epidemiological patterns of pediatric HMPV infection in Tianjin from 2012 to 2024 and analyzed the genetic features of circulating strains to inform prevention and control strategies.Methods  Epidemiological data collected from 2012 to 2024 were retrospectively analyzed to describe the seasonality and age distribution of pediatric HMPV infection. Novel primers were designed for whole-genome sequencing, and circulating HMPV strains were characterized by subtype, recombination signals, amino acid substitutions, and glycosylation sites.Results  Pediatric HMPV infection in Tianjin showed seasonal and age-related patterns. The dominant type alternated between HMPV-A and HMPV-B every 1-3 years. Four major subtypes, A2b, A2c, B1, and B2, were detected, and A2c predominated in recent years. Genetic and molecular analyses identified recombination signals in several sequences, as well as amino acid substitutions and glycosylation sites.Conclusion  This study characterized the epidemiological patterns of pediatric HMPV infection in Tianjin from 2012 to 2024. The newly designed primers supported whole-genome sequencing and analyses of viral genetic variation and recombination. These findings provide epidemiological and genomic evidence to inform HMPV prevention and control.
SN  - 2096-7071
ER  -